BUCHAREST: Romania’s constitutional court on Friday canceled the country’s presidential election following allegations of Russian interference in favor of the far-right frontrunner, just two days ahead of the run-off.
Romanian authorities objected after outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round of the election on November 24, a shock result in the EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the presidency declassified documents detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including “massive” social media promotion and cyber-attacks.
The court said it had unanimously decided “to annul the entire electoral process for the election of the president of Romania... to ensure the correctness and legality of the electoral process.”
“The government will set a new date for the election of the president of Romania,” it added.
Georgescu, a former senior civil servant, had been due to face centrist mayor Elena Lasconi in Sunday’s runoff.
“Today is the moment when the Romanian state has trampled democracy,” Lasconi, a former journalist, 52, said in a video recording, calling the decision “illegal, immoral... crushing the very essence of democracy.”
Fears had been raised that if Georgescu won, the country would join the EU’s far-right bloc and undermine European unity against Russia.
Washington has warned of “serious negative impacts” if Romania — whose strategic importance has increased since Russia invaded Ukraine — turned away from the West.
Outgoing Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu — who lost in the first round of presidential elections — welcomed the court’s decision in a post on Facebook.
It was, he said, “the only correct solution after the declassification of the documents... which show that the result of the Romanians’ vote was blatantly distorted as a result of Russia’s intervention.”
The documents, drawn up for a security council meeting and published Wednesday, the authorities said data had “revealed an aggressive promotional campaign, in violation of electoral legislation, and an exploitation of algorithms to increase the popularity of Calin Georgescu at an accelerated pace.”
Last week authorities slammed “preferential treatment” of Georgescu by TikTok, which the social media platform has denied. It said Thursday it had “no evidence that a coordinated campaign has taken place on our platform to date.”
The European Commission announced however that it had stepped up monitoring of TikTok’s role in the elections.
A separate intelligence services document stated that Romania “is perceived by Moscow’s policy centers as an enemy state.”
Romania is a “target for aggressive Russian hybrid actions, including cyberattacks and hacks and leaks and sabotage,” it added.
Anti-corruption prosecutors on Friday said they have opened an investigation into “illegal operations with computer devices or software.”
Prosecutors are already probing “possible violations of electoral legislation” and “money laundering offenses.”
Georgescu, 62, shot into the limelight with his performance in the first round of voting.
Having praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, he has recently avoided answering questions about him being pro-Russian.
A critic of the EU and NATO, he says he does not want to leave either group but wants to put Romania “on the world map.”
Like his idol US president-elect Donald Trump, he is opposed to military aid to Ukraine.
While the president’s post is largely ceremonial, the head-of-state has moral authority and influence on Romania’s foreign policy.
The president also designates the prime minister — a key role especially since legislative elections last weekend returned a fragmented parliament.
The governing pro-European Social Democrats won the vote, but far-right parties made strong gains, together securing a third of the ballots.
Since the fall of Communism in 1989, Romania has never seen such a breakthrough by the far right, fueled by mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine.
George Simion, leader of the far-right AUR party, also slammed Friday’s court ruling, calling it a “state coup in full swing.”
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Romania’s top court scraps presidential election
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Romania’s top court scraps presidential election
- The court said it had unanimously decided “to annul the entire electoral process for the election of the president of Romania”
- “The government will set a new date for the election of the president of Romania“
Panama wrests control of canal ports from Hong Kong group
- In January, the country’s supreme court declared as “unconstitutional” the contract which had allowed Hutchison’s subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC) to manage the ports
PANAMA: Panamanian authorities have taken control of two ports on the Panama Canal from CK Hutchison after the Hong Kong-based conglomerate’s concession was annulled amid a row between the United States and China.
CK Hutchison objected Tuesday to the takeover, which it called “unlawful” and said raises “serious risks to the operations, health and safety” at terminals.”
In January, the country’s supreme court declared as “unconstitutional” the contract which had allowed Hutchison’s subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC) to manage the ports of Balboa on the Pacific and Cristobal on the Atlantic since 1997.
“The Panama Maritime Authority has taken possession of its ports and guarantees the continuity of operations,” an official said Monday after the Panamanian Supreme Court annulled Hutchison’s contracts to operate the ports.
The court ruling was the latest legal move to ripple through the interoceanic waterway, which handles about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world trade.
The Central American country has been swept up in broader tensions between Washington and Beijing, with US President Donald Trump claiming, without providing evidence, last year that China effectively runs the canal.
Panama has always denied Chinese control over the 80-kilometer (50-mile) waterway, which is used mainly by the United States and China.
Hutchison had asked the Panamanian government to enter into negotiations to allow it to continue operating the two terminals — to no avail.
Publication of the court ruling in the official gazette Monday effectively ended the legal process.
“This does not imply the expropriation of those assets, but rather their use to guarantee the operation of the ports until their real value is determined for the corresponding actions,” said Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.
Ports director Max Florez said an 18-month transition period now begins, with the ports being operated by two other companies before contracts are awarded under a new international tender.
PPC denounced the move as an “illegal takeover without transparency or coordination” and said Panama’s actions were “confiscatory.”
In its statement Tuesday, CK Hutchison said: “None of the actions by the Panama State were advised to or co-ordinated with PPC.”
It will continue to consult with legal advisers regarding the ruling and “all available recourse including... legal proceedings against the Republic of Panama and its agents and third parties colluding with them,” CK Hutchison added.
Hong Kong’s government lodged a “stern protest” on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the “heavy-handed action” had “seriously infringed upon the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong enterprises.”
’No layoffs’
China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office had previously warned that Panama would pay a “heavy price, both politically and economically” for stripping Hutchison of its tender.
Panama said APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the Danish Maersk group, will operate the port of Balboa, and Terminal Investment Limited, owned by the logistics giant MSC, will operate the port of Cristobal.
Labor Minister Jackeline Munoz assured there would be “no layoffs” at the two terminals, which employ around 1,200 people.
Following the court’s January ruling, the Panama Maritime Authority had said a division of Maersk Group would temporarily take over operation of the facilities.
Last week, Hutchison warned of possible legal action against Maersk and others over the annulment of its contract.
The Hong Kong company has said it will challenge Panama’s decision before the International Chamber of Commerce.
US Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera defended Panamanian authorities, saying they have the right “to have their judicial system make its own decisions” and that the Supreme Court ruling was “very good” for the people of Panama.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States, which operated it for a century before ceding control to Panama in 1999.
On his first day back in the White House last year, Trump threatened to seize the canal.
He cooled his threats after Panamanian authorities decided that the concession ran counter to Panama’s interests.
CK Hutchison objected Tuesday to the takeover, which it called “unlawful” and said raises “serious risks to the operations, health and safety” at terminals.”
In January, the country’s supreme court declared as “unconstitutional” the contract which had allowed Hutchison’s subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC) to manage the ports of Balboa on the Pacific and Cristobal on the Atlantic since 1997.
“The Panama Maritime Authority has taken possession of its ports and guarantees the continuity of operations,” an official said Monday after the Panamanian Supreme Court annulled Hutchison’s contracts to operate the ports.
The court ruling was the latest legal move to ripple through the interoceanic waterway, which handles about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world trade.
The Central American country has been swept up in broader tensions between Washington and Beijing, with US President Donald Trump claiming, without providing evidence, last year that China effectively runs the canal.
Panama has always denied Chinese control over the 80-kilometer (50-mile) waterway, which is used mainly by the United States and China.
Hutchison had asked the Panamanian government to enter into negotiations to allow it to continue operating the two terminals — to no avail.
Publication of the court ruling in the official gazette Monday effectively ended the legal process.
“This does not imply the expropriation of those assets, but rather their use to guarantee the operation of the ports until their real value is determined for the corresponding actions,” said Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.
Ports director Max Florez said an 18-month transition period now begins, with the ports being operated by two other companies before contracts are awarded under a new international tender.
PPC denounced the move as an “illegal takeover without transparency or coordination” and said Panama’s actions were “confiscatory.”
In its statement Tuesday, CK Hutchison said: “None of the actions by the Panama State were advised to or co-ordinated with PPC.”
It will continue to consult with legal advisers regarding the ruling and “all available recourse including... legal proceedings against the Republic of Panama and its agents and third parties colluding with them,” CK Hutchison added.
Hong Kong’s government lodged a “stern protest” on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the “heavy-handed action” had “seriously infringed upon the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong enterprises.”
’No layoffs’
China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office had previously warned that Panama would pay a “heavy price, both politically and economically” for stripping Hutchison of its tender.
Panama said APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the Danish Maersk group, will operate the port of Balboa, and Terminal Investment Limited, owned by the logistics giant MSC, will operate the port of Cristobal.
Labor Minister Jackeline Munoz assured there would be “no layoffs” at the two terminals, which employ around 1,200 people.
Following the court’s January ruling, the Panama Maritime Authority had said a division of Maersk Group would temporarily take over operation of the facilities.
Last week, Hutchison warned of possible legal action against Maersk and others over the annulment of its contract.
The Hong Kong company has said it will challenge Panama’s decision before the International Chamber of Commerce.
US Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera defended Panamanian authorities, saying they have the right “to have their judicial system make its own decisions” and that the Supreme Court ruling was “very good” for the people of Panama.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States, which operated it for a century before ceding control to Panama in 1999.
On his first day back in the White House last year, Trump threatened to seize the canal.
He cooled his threats after Panamanian authorities decided that the concession ran counter to Panama’s interests.
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